Nena von Schlebrügge
Encyclopedia
Birgitte Caroline 'Nena' von Schlebrügge (born January 8, 1941) is a Mexican former fashion model of the 1950s and 1960s and is now the managing director of Menla Mountain Retreat.
She was born in Mexico City
in 1941, the daughter of a Swedish mother, Birgit Holmquist, and a German father, Friedrich Karl Johannes von Schlebrügge. Her maternal grandmother's parents were German and Danish. Her mother served as Axel Ebbe's model for Famntaget (the embrace) - a 1930s statue of a nude woman that overlooks the harbor of Smygehuk
in Sweden
.
On her father's side she has an older half sister, who was the paternal grandmother of Swedish football player Max von Schlebrügge
.
In 1955 at the age of 14, Nena was discovered by Vogue (magazine)
photographer Norman Parkinson
when he was on a tour in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1957 Nena moved to London, England to pursue a career in high fashion modelling. She found immediate success and was invited to New York City by Eileen Ford
of the Ford Modeling Agency to continue her modelling career.
In the snow storm of March of 1958, at the age of 17 She arrived in New York City on the Queen Mary. In New York City she continued her modelling career as a top model, working at Vogue (magazine)
, and Harper's Bazaar
.
She married Doctor Timothy Leary
in 1964. D.A. Pennebaker documented the event in his short film You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You. The marriage lasted only a year before Von Schlebrügge divorced Leary in 1965.
In 1967, she married Indo-Tibetan Buddhist scholar, and ex-monk Robert Thurman
. In the same year Nena and Robert's first child Ganden Thurman was born.
In 1967, she played a part in the Edie Sedgwick
film, Ciao! Manhattan
. The film took four years to make and drastic changes were made from the original story causing the film-makers to remove many scenes shot in 1967, which included Nena's scenes. These deleted scenes can be found on the DVD version of the film.
The Thurmans lived in Massachusetts from 1973 to 1988. During which time Nena did an M.Ed in creativity, and an all but dissertation doctorate in counseling psychology.
In 1970 Robert and Nena's second child, Uma Thurman
was born.
From 1987 to 1989 Nena was the program director at the New York Open Center, and from 1991 to 2002 was the managing director of Tibet House US, where she oversaw the construction of Tibet House, the educational programming, and with Philip Glass
initiated the annual benefit concert at Carnegie Hall
, as well as the annual benefit auction at Christie's
.
Since 2001 Nena has been the managing director of Menla Mountain Retreat where she has overseen the construction of a state of the art Tibetan medicinal spa facility and business.
She was born in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
in 1941, the daughter of a Swedish mother, Birgit Holmquist, and a German father, Friedrich Karl Johannes von Schlebrügge. Her maternal grandmother's parents were German and Danish. Her mother served as Axel Ebbe's model for Famntaget (the embrace) - a 1930s statue of a nude woman that overlooks the harbor of Smygehuk
Smygehuk
Smygehuk is a harbour and fishing village near Trelleborg in Skåne, Sweden. It's most known for being the southernmost point of Sweden and the Scandinavian Peninsula . To the west of the harbour is Smygehuk Lighthouse and Smygehuk Hostel....
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
On her father's side she has an older half sister, who was the paternal grandmother of Swedish football player Max von Schlebrügge
Max von Schlebrügge
Max von Schlebrügge is a Swedish footballer. He plays centre back for Brøndby IF in the Danish Superliga.He was signed by Brøndby in January 2008 from Anderlecht from Belgium....
.
In 1955 at the age of 14, Nena was discovered by Vogue (magazine)
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
photographer Norman Parkinson
Norman Parkinson
Norman Parkinson, CBE was a celebrated English portrait and fashion photographer.-Biography:Parkinson was born in London, and educated at Westminster School. He began his career in 1931 as an apprentice to the court photographers Speaight and Sons Ltd...
when he was on a tour in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1957 Nena moved to London, England to pursue a career in high fashion modelling. She found immediate success and was invited to New York City by Eileen Ford
Eileen Ford
Eileen Ford is a model agency executive and co-founder, in 1946, with her late husband Gerard William "Jerry" Ford, of Ford Models, one of the earliest and internationally best known modelling agencies in the world.-Early life:...
of the Ford Modeling Agency to continue her modelling career.
In the snow storm of March of 1958, at the age of 17 She arrived in New York City on the Queen Mary. In New York City she continued her modelling career as a top model, working at Vogue (magazine)
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
, and Harper's Bazaar
Harper's Bazaar
Harper’s Bazaar is an American fashion magazine, first published in 1867. Harper’s Bazaar is published by Hearst and, as a magazine, considers itself to be the style resource for “women who are the first to buy the best, from casual to couture.”...
.
She married Doctor Timothy Leary
Timothy Leary
Timothy Francis Leary was an American psychologist and writer, known for his advocacy of psychedelic drugs. During a time when drugs like LSD and psilocybin were legal, Leary conducted experiments at Harvard University under the Harvard Psilocybin Project, resulting in the Concord Prison...
in 1964. D.A. Pennebaker documented the event in his short film You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You. The marriage lasted only a year before Von Schlebrügge divorced Leary in 1965.
In 1967, she married Indo-Tibetan Buddhist scholar, and ex-monk Robert Thurman
Robert Thurman
Robert Alexander Farrar Thurman is an influential and prolific American Buddhist writer and academic who has authored, edited or translated several books on Tibetan Buddhism. He is the Je Tsongkhapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University, holding the first endowed chair...
. In the same year Nena and Robert's first child Ganden Thurman was born.
In 1967, she played a part in the Edie Sedgwick
Edie Sedgwick
Edith Minturn "Edie" Sedgwick was an American actress, socialite, model and heiress. She is best known for being one of Andy Warhol's superstars. Sedgwick became known as "The Girl of the Year" in 1965 after starring in several of Warhol's short films in the 1960s...
film, Ciao! Manhattan
Ciao! Manhattan
Ciao! Manhattan is a 1972 American avant garde film starring Edie Sedgwick, one of Andy Warhol's Superstars. Although not a documentary, the film centers around a character very closely based on Sedgwick, and deals with the pain of addiction and the lure of fame.-Film overview:Written and directed...
. The film took four years to make and drastic changes were made from the original story causing the film-makers to remove many scenes shot in 1967, which included Nena's scenes. These deleted scenes can be found on the DVD version of the film.
The Thurmans lived in Massachusetts from 1973 to 1988. During which time Nena did an M.Ed in creativity, and an all but dissertation doctorate in counseling psychology.
In 1970 Robert and Nena's second child, Uma Thurman
Uma Thurman
Uma Karuna Thurman is an American actress and model. She has performed in leading roles in a variety of films, ranging from romantic comedies and dramas to science fiction and action movies. Among her best-known roles are those in the Quentin Tarantino films Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill...
was born.
From 1987 to 1989 Nena was the program director at the New York Open Center, and from 1991 to 2002 was the managing director of Tibet House US, where she oversaw the construction of Tibet House, the educational programming, and with Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with...
initiated the annual benefit concert at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
, as well as the annual benefit auction at Christie's
Christie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
.
Since 2001 Nena has been the managing director of Menla Mountain Retreat where she has overseen the construction of a state of the art Tibetan medicinal spa facility and business.